| The way an experienced runner will approach training | | | | how to spot the signs of over training and fuelling |
| will be very different to a beginners marathon training | | | | your body to achieve the best results it is going to |
| schedule. Beginners have no experience of running | | | | be essential that you learn all you can about the |
| and very poor basic fitness levels, whilst an | | | | subject. |
| experienced runner has already built a foundation of | | | | One last point is that you are more than likely going |
| fitness. | | | | to run in all weather conditions and temperatures and |
| This can be both good and bad in that progress will | | | | so are going to need the right types clothing. Things |
| be much faster, but bad in that improper technique | | | | such as waterproofs, thermal underwear and running |
| may have been thoroughly learned. Where a beginner | | | | socks are all items that will improve your experience |
| benefits is that they can learn the grass roots basics | | | | and make running far more comfortable. |
| first and then progress from there in a safe and | | | | #3 Build A Solid Foundation Of Fitness At the start |
| progressive way. | | | | you will more than likely be extremely eager to train, |
| Before you even step one foot on to the tarmac, | | | | but you should be wary of doing this. Instead start |
| there a few points you need to be considered | | | | off slowly and increase distances and speeds as you |
| before starting any beginners marathon training | | | | become more capable and less challenged. I suggest |
| schedule: - | | | | that you leave at least 24 - 48 hours in between |
| #1 Give Your Body an Overhaul Before starting any | | | | particularly challenging runs to begin with, but listen to |
| form of activity or exercise it is strongly advised to | | | | your body and take longer to recover if you need it. |
| get a check up from your doctor. There may be | | | | If you can't run at all to begin with, you will need to |
| some underlying health issues that you weren't | | | | lower you expectations a little and plan for a longer |
| aware of that can affect your ability to run. Any | | | | training time to get to the point where you can run |
| niggling injuries or long term joint problems also need | | | | your first marathon. Instead of running, you should |
| to be rectified. | | | | aim to power walk up until you are able to jog, from |
| #2 Invest In Your Interest The very minimum | | | | there you can progress a little faster. Running 3 times |
| requirements you need are at least one good pair of | | | | a week should be enough to start seeing |
| running shoes, ideally selected for you by staff who | | | | improvements. |
| have access to gait analysis software, usually found | | | | Having a goal of running a marathon is a wonderful |
| at the better running stores. | | | | target to aim at but please make sure that your |
| For you to fully understand the way your body | | | | beginners marathon training schedule is more than |
| should respond to training and more importantly how | | | | simply a chart with a list of days, miles or times. |
| that training should be structured as well as learning | | | | There is far more to marathon training than this. |